Snake attachment



March 12, 1968 J. J. DEVINE 3,372,417

SNAKE ATTACHMENT Pl'Ied Dec. 15, 1965 INVENTOR.

JAMES J. DEVINE BY 761w,

United States Patent 3,372,417 SNAKE ATTACHMENT James J. Devine, 209Clifton Ave., Kingston, N.Y. 12401 Filed Dec. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 514,152Claims. (Cl. -1043) This invention relates to snake attachments and moreparticularly to a snake attachment to be slidably mounted on a flexiblesnake and detachably coupled to a waste line so that a flexible conduitmay be coupled to the attachment to supply water to the waste line whilemaintaining a water-tight seal between the snake and the attachment.

Attachments generally employed for use with flexible snakes for cleaningwaste lines do not provide a means for maintaining a supply of water inthe waste line to be cleaned. Attachments of this type, if utilized, donot maintain the proper water-tight seal so that water does not passthrough the attachment and spill onto the floor. Devices are employed soas to enable one to turn the snake so that a whipping action takes placewhile the snake is rotated. Various designs of snakes are availablehaving improved devices for attachment to the end thereof so as tofacilitate cleaning of a waste line. However, these devices are notgenerally suitable where foreign material clogging a waste line must beflushed out so as to enable the snake to completely clean the interiorthere of. The pipe is generally flushed after the snake is removed andoften the material loosened will again clog the line thus necessitatingfurther work to free the material clogging the line.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple device which iseasily adapted for attachment to existing flexible snakes and existingWaste lines so that water pressure may be applied to a clogged wasteline to facilitate cleaning thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which is rathersimple and inexpensive to manufacture, and is quickly and easilyassembled and disassembled.

In general the snake attachment comprises a housing having an end platemounted at one end thereof. The end plate is provided with an openingwhich communicates with a longitudinal passage formed by an assembly ofa plurality of bearing members disposed within the housing. Means forproviding a sealing fluid is mounted on the housing so that when aflexible snake is disposed therein the sealing fluid will fill thelongitudinal passage and the interior of the housing to provide awater-tight seal. A coupling is mounted at the other end of the housingwhich is provided with a mounting means for attaching a flexible conduitto a water source so that Water may be supplied to the waste line whenthe snake attachment is coupled thereto.

Other objects and advantages of my improved snake attachment will becomeapparent from the following description of the drawings exemplifyingpreferred embodiments of my invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in cross-section embodying myinvention showing a preferred form of assembly thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in cross-section showing another formof assembly for effecting a water-tight seal; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrows 3-3 ofFIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, myimproved snake attachment is generally shown at 10. A housing 12,generally cylindrical in form, is provided with threaded ends 13 and 14and end plate 16 is threadedly coupled to housing 12 on threaded end 13.A plurality of bearing assemblies 18, 19 and are slidably mounted withinhousing 12 in spaced relation to ice each other so that bearings 18 and20 are disposed adjacent the ends of housing 12 and bearing 19 isdisposed therebetween, as seen in FIG. 1. Openings 18', 19' and 20' aresubstantially equal to the opening 22 for-med in end plate 16 and arecoaxially aligned therewith. Spacers 24 are interposed between bearings18, 19 and 20' so as to substantially fill the spaces therebetween. Agrease fitting 15 having a threaded end 17 is threadedly coupled inthreaded opening 17 of housing 12 so that sealing fluid F will passthrough a central opening thereof, not shown, to fill the interior ofhousing 12. Openings 24 of spacers 24 are substantially greater than thediameter of flexible snake S and openings 18, 19, 20 and 22 so thatrecesses are formed between bearings 18, 19 and 20. When sealing fluid Fis disposed within housing 12 the recesses will be filled therewith toeffect a water-tight seal between the external surface of snake S andthe longitudinal passage formed by openings 18', 19', 20', 22 and 24'.

A coupling 26 having a threaded opening 27 is coupled to housing 12 onthreaded end 14 thereof. Coupling 26 is provided with a threaded opening28 for coupling one end of a flexible conduit C thereto so that theother end thereof may be connected to a water source, not shown.

When snake attachment 10 is connected to a waste pipe, not shown, bythreads 30 of coupling 26, water pressure may be supplied to the wasteline simultaneously while snake S is passing therethrough. Thus, whensnake S is being fed into the waste pipe and the material clogging thepipe is loosened it will be flushed through the pipe and into the sewer.

End plate 16 may be provided with an annular groove 32 so that a fluidtight seal 34 may be disposed therein and which will contact the surfaceof snake S to provide an auxiliary water-tight seal. Bearing 18 may bemounted in fixed position at one end of housing 12 as by spot welding orbrazing or it may be held in fixed position by providing an auxiliarycoupling 36 having an annular surface 37 so that hearing 18 will biasagainst the surface 38.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 an alternate embodiment is shown which provides ahousing 40 having an end plate 42 coupled to housing 40 at threaded end43. Opening 44 is provided in end plate 42 so that snake S may passtherethrough. A pair of semi-cylindrical bearing members 46 are slidablymounted within housing 40 and are provided with an annular groove 48having spaced recesses 50 disposed therein. Transverse bores 52 aredisposed in semicylindrical bearing members 46 so as to communicate withrecesses 50. Resilient spring members 54 are disposed between theinterior surface of housing 40 and the external surface ofsemi-cylindrical bearing members 46 so as to yieldingly holdsemi-cylindrical bearing members 46 in fixed position. A grease fitting56 is coupled to housing 40 in threaded opening 58 so that sealing fluidmay pass through a central opening in fitting 56, not shown, to fill theinterior portion of housing 40 and recesses 50 through bore openings 52thereby effecting a water-tight seal between the external surfaces ofsnake S and the longitudinal passage 48.

A threaded coupling 60 is connected to threaded end 62 of housing 40 soas to hold semi-cylindrical bearing members 46 in fixed position and toprevent longitudinal movement thereof. End plate 42 and coupling 60 maybe formed with recesses 64 and '66 so that a flexible watertight seal 68may be disposed therein to provide an auxiliary water-tight seal betweenexternal surfaces of snake S and longitudinal passage 48. Thesemi-cylindrical bearing members may be made of any convenient material,such as wood, metal casting or molded from plastic. Housings 12 and 40may be formed of a rigid material, such as iron, steel, galvanizedsteel, brass or rigid plastic.

When employing my improved snake attachment, all that is necessary is topass a flexible snake S through the longitudinally extending passageformed by the bearing members disposed within the housing. The snakeattachment together with the flexible snake is threadedly coupled to awaste pipe opening and a flexible conduit C, such as a hose, isconnected to the snake assembly and a water source. The water is thenturned on so as to fill the clogged Waste pipe. The pressure of thewater is such that it will not penetrate through the water-tight sealformed by the sealing fluid such as a heavy grease for water pumps, northrough the auxiliary seals disposed Within the end plates of theattachment. The snake is passed into the waste pipe and rotated in theusual manner so as to break up any material that is clogging the wastepipe. Once the snake has penetrated the material clogging the pipe, thematerial will be flushed into the main sewer and the pipe will besubstantially clean since the whipping action of the snake continues toremove any remaining material adhering to the inner surface of the pipe.

It is obvious that many changes may be made in the design and structureof my device and various materials may be used for forming my snakeassembly without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A snake attachment adapted to be mounted to waste lines comprising ahousing and an end plate mounted at one end thereof and having a centralopening disposed therein, a plurality of washers and ball bearingassemblies slidably mounted in spaced relationship Within said housingand having central openings formed therein so as to form alongitudinally extending passage communicating with said opening in saidend plate, means mounted on said housing for providing a sealing fluidto fill said housing and said longitudinal passage, said openings insaid ball bearing assemblies being substantially equal to the diameterof the snake so as to support the external surfaces thereof at randompoints through said housing and said openings in said washers being atleast greater than the diameter of said snake so as to form recesses forthe sealing fluid whereby water is prevented from passing through saidattachment and a coupling mounted to the other end of said housinghaving mounting means to connect the coupling to the waste line and forattaching a flexible conduit to a Water source.

2. A snake attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said end plate isprovided with an annular recess for removably mounting a water-tightseal so that when a snake passes through the opening in said end platethe water-tight seal communicates With the external surface of thesnake.

3. A snake attachment adapted to be mounted to waste lines comprising ahousing and an end plate mounted at one end thereof and having anopening disposed therein, a pair of semi-cylindrical members removablymounted within said housing, each of said members having an annulargroove and spaced recesses formed along the longitudinal axis thereof sothat when the members are placed in contact with each other alongitudinal central passage is formed, said semi-cylindrical membershaving transverse bores extending between the external surface of saidmembers and recesses formed in said longitudinal passage so that sealingfluid will pass through said bores and fill said recesses whereby awater-tight seal is formed around a flexible snake when slidably mountedin said longitudinal passage and a coupling mounted to the other end ofsaid housing and having means to connect the coupling t the waste lineand for attaching a flexible conduit to a water source.

4. A snake attachment as defined in claim 3 wherein a plurality ofresilient spring members are disposed between said housing and externalsurfaces of said semicylindrical members so as to yieldingly hold saidmembers in fixed position.

5. A snake attachment as defined in claim 3 wherein said end plate andsaid coupling are formed with an annular recess for removably mounting awater-tight seal so that when a flexible snake is slidably disposed insaid longitudinal passage the Water-tight seals communicate with theexternal surface of the snake.

6. A snake attachment adapted to be mounted to waste lines comprising ahousing and an end plate mounted at one end thereof and having anopening disposed therein, said end plate having an annular recess forremovably mounting a Water-tight seal so that when a flexible snakepasses through the opening in said end plate the watertight sealcommunicates with the external surface of the snake, a plurality ofbearing members having openings therein so as to communicate with theopening of said end plate to form a longitudinal passage through saidhousing, means mounted on said housing for providing a sealing fluid tofill said housing and said longitudinal passage, a coupling mounted tothe other end of said housing having mounting means to connect thecoupling to the waste line and for attaching a flexible conduit to awater source so that when a flexible snake is slidably disposed in saidlongitudinal passage the sealing fluid forms a water-tight seal betweenthe surfaces defining the longitudinal passage and the external surfaceof the snake whereby water is prevented from passing through theattachment.

7. A snake attachment adapted to be mounted to waste lines comprising ahousing and an end plate mounted at one end thereof and having anopening disposed therein, a plurality of ball bearing assemblies mountedin spaced relationship within said housing, a plurality of washersmounted between said ball bearing assemblies so as to form alongitudinally extending passage communicating with the opening in saidend plate, means mounted on said housing for providing a sealing fluidto fill said housing and said longitudinal passage, said ball bearingassemblies having openings substantially equal to the diameter of thesnake so as to support the external surfaces thereof at random pointsthrough said housing, said washers having openings at least greater thanthe diameter of said snake so as to form recesses for the sealing fluid,a coupling mounted to the other end of said housing having mountingmeans to connect the coupling to the Waste line and for attaching aflexible conduit to a water source so that when a flexible snake isslidably disposed in said longitudinal passage the sealing fluid forms awater-tight seal between the surfaces defining the longitudinal passageand the external surface of the snake whereby water is prevented frompassing through the attachment.

8. A snake attachment adapted to be mounted to waste lines comprising ahousing and an end plate mounted at one end thereof and having anopening disposed therein, a pair of semi-cylindrical members each havingan annular groove and spaced recesses formed along the longitudinal axisthereof so that when the members are placed in contact with each other alongitudinal central passage is formed, said cylindrical members havingtransverse bores extending between the external surface of thesemi-cylindrical members and recesses formed in said longitudinalpassage, means mounted on said housing for providing a sealing fluid tofill said housing and said longitudinal passage so that sealing fluidwill pass through said bores and fill said recesses, a coupling mountedto the other end of said housing having mounting means to connect thecoupling to the waste line and for attaching a flexible conduit to awater source so that when a flexible snake is slidably disposed in saidlongitudinal passage the sealing fluid forms a water-tight seal betweenthe surfaces defining the longitudinal passage and the external surfaceof the snake whereby water is prevented from passing through theattachment.

9. A snake attachment adapted to be mounted to waste lines comprising ahousing and an end plate mounted at one end thereof and having anopening disposed therein, a pair of semi-cylindrical members each havingan annu: lar groove and spaced recesses formed along the longitudinalaxis thereof so that when the members are placed in contact with eachother a longitudinal central passage is formed, a plurality of resilientspring members disposed between said housing and external surfaces ofsaid semi-cylindrical members so as to yieldingly hold said members infixed position, said cylindrical members having transverse boresextending between the external surface of the semi-cylindrical membersand recesses formed in said longitudinal passage, means mounted on saidhousing for providing a sealing fluid to fill said housing and saidlongitudinal passage so that sealing fluid will pass through said boresand fill said recesses, a coupling mounted to the other end of saidhousing having mounting means to connect the coupling to the Waste linefor attaching a flexible conduit to a Water source so that when aflexible snake is slidably disposed in said longitudinal passage thesealing fluid forms a water-tight seal between the surfaces defining thelongitudinal passage and the external surface of the snake whereby wateris prevented from passing through the attachment.

10. A snake attachment adapted to be mounted to waste lines comprising ahousing and an end plate mounted at one end thereof and having anopening disposed therein, a plurality of bearing members having openingstherein so as to communicate with the opening of said end plate to forma longitudinal passage through said housing, means mounted on saidhousing for providing a sealing fluid to fill said housing and saidlongitudinal passage, a coupling mounted to the other end of saidhousing having mounting means to connect the coupling to the waste lineand for attaching a flexible conduit to a water source, said end plateand said coupling being formed with an annular recess for removablymounting a water-tight seal, said water-tight seal communicating Withthe external surfaces of a snake so that when the flexible snake isslidably disposed in said longitudinal passage the sealing fluid forms awater-tight seal between the surfaces defining the longitudinal passageand the external surface of the snake whereby Water is prevented frompassing through the attachment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,090,174 8/1937 Albricht 15104.3X

FOREIGN PATENTS 343,522 10/1921 Germany.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Examiner.

1. A SNAKE ATTACHMENT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED TO WASTE LINES COMPRISING AHOUSING AND AN END PLATE MOUNTED AT ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING A CENTRALOPENING DISPOSED THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF WASHERS AND BALL BEARINGASSEMBLIES SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITHIN SAID HOUSINGAND HAVING CENTRAL OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN SO AS TO FORM ALONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PASSAGE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPEN IN SAIDEND PLATE, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING FOR PROVIDING A SEALING FLUIDTO FILL SAID HOUSING AND SAID LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE, SAID OPENINGS INSAID BALL BEARING ASSEMBLIES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETEROF THE SNAKE SO AS TO SUPPORT THE EXTERNAL SURFACES THEREOF AT RANDOMPOINTS THROUGH SAID HOUSING AND SAID OPENINGS IN SAID WASHERS BEING ATLEAST GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID SNAKE SO AS TO FORM RECESSES FORTHE SEALING FLUID WHEREBY WATER IS PREVENTED FROM PASSING THROUGH SAIDATTACHMENT AND A COUPLING MOUNTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID HOUSINGHAVING MOUNTING MEANS TO CONNECT THE COUPLING TO THE WASTE LINE AND FORATTACHING A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT TO A WATER SOURCE.